On the road again 2022

 Greetings followers,

The blog is back in action.  Once again we are on the road, although this is a trip without particular goal (apart from being on the road again) so it is a bit of a meander.

We left Yamba on April 10 and headed south to King Creek near Wauchope.  Bobbie's cousin Janet, her daughter Dawn and Dawn's son Tavis were visiting Janet's other daughter Darlene and her husband Nigel and children who live in Australia, so we had a mini family reunion. It was great to catch up with everybody and we had sunny skies all the way to Wauchope which was a wonderful change from all the recent rain.

After Wauchope we spent a couple of days in Sydney, staying at Lakeside Caravan Park in Narrabeen getting a tent extension installed on the van.  We had a morning swim with the Bongin Bongin Dawnbusters and caught up with Sydney swimming friends. Bill also had lunch with his usual group of former workmates.  

Ocean Pools at Narrabeen

Ocean Pools at Narrabeen

Our visiting continued as we headed south to  Windellema near Goulburn.  Friends Ray and Gail have small farm there, devoted to supporting superannuated race horses now that Gail has retired from breeding them.  We had another lovely, rain free visit and such at the Lake George Hotel in Bungendore.

After we left Ray and Gail we headed south to Albury. We stayed a couple of days and spent time riding on all the great bike trails through the city.  There is a near bicycle expressway that goes from south of the town to the north, as well as trails that follow creeks through the town and run along the river out to a sculpture park and bird watching area to the west.  On Easter Sunday we headed off the the Rutherglen where friend Ian is a winemaker for Campbells Winery.  They were having a special Easter weekend with music, lunches, tasting and easter egg hunts for the children.  We didn't see Ian as he was busy with the harvest, but we had a great time and bought a couple of bottles of wine.

Easter at Campbell's Albury

Tasting at Campbell's

Easter Monday we headed towards Melbourne.  What a mistake!  Bumper to bumper traffic from at leat 60 kilometres out as people headed back to the city.  We had planned to camp in a national park but it poured rain all day.  When we reached the road to Cooks Mill campground it was 22k of muddy, slippery road and we decided no thanks for one rainy night.  Camped at Merton Racecourse which was very basic but handy and only a gold coin donation to camp.

We headed to Melbourne the next day in pouring rain again that continued all day.  Met up with our friends Hans and Cathy who are staying with relatives while they wait for their new house to be finished.  We braved the rain and spent a fascinating, if wet, afternoon in the Australian Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne.  It has stunning landscapes typical of different areas of Australia, including a dramatic representation of the red centre.  Kathy later made us a great dinner and we had a lovely chat with Han's daughter Ariane and son-in-law Clint.

Our favourite plant Australian Botanical Gardens

Snake Neck Turtle at Australian Botanical Gardens

We'd had enough of rain so we headed off the next day.  We spent about an hour wandering around the very chi-chi streets and shops of Sorrento, then took the ferry across to Queenscliffe.  This allowed us to avoid being through Melbourne, with a peaceful sea voyage instead.  Much more scenic and less stressful.

Sorrento Seas

Sorento from the Ferry

Our destination that night was Ocean Grove on the Bellarine Peninsula.  There are huge caravan parks there as it is favourite summer place for Melbournians.  Luckily, bookings taper off after Easter and the park there was fairly full but quiet.  We spent a few days exploring Ocean Beach and neighbouring Barwon Heads across the Barwon River.  Once again, lots of long bicycle and walking tracks excellent for exploring.  We also found two department store size op shops, Vinnies and the Salvos, in the industrial area while we were looking for plumbing parts.  I could not believe the amount and quality of stock. Good thing I don't live here.  We also found a huge Aquatic Centre and I had a swim.

Barwon Heads

Barwon Heads River Mouth

For Anzac Day weekend we went inland to Colac, a lovely little country town.  We travelled along the Surf Coast section the Great Ocean Road, which has historic lighthouses and beautiful scenery along a breathtaking, winding road along the coast.  Turned off at Skenes Creek and drove up through the ranges  to Lakeside Caravan Park, a park that has only unpowered or funny old ensuite sites.  Beautiful location on the Lake Colac right between the botanic gardens and the bird sanctuary.  It has it's own little coffee caravan and immediate access to a beautiful bike path all along the lake.  The town has lovely old houses, and a rowing club and a sailing club that date back the late 1800's.  At a regatta in 1879, they attracted over 3,00 visitors.  Fascinating little place to stay.

From Split Point Lighthouse on Surf Coast Road 

Split Point Lighthouse, near start of Great Ocean Road

Old buildings converted to units in Colac

Lake Colac Yacht Club

After Colac we headed back to the coast on the Great Ocean Road again.  On our way we stopped at the Otway Fly, the world's tallest Tree top walk among the giant Black Ash.  We also did a short walk to Triplet Falls, a pretty stream near an old logging site.

Triplet Falls

Otway Fly

We camped at Blanket Bay, west of Apollo Bay right on the beach.  The beach was sandy with rock outcrops.  Swam but it was cold with a strong, cold onshore wind.  We had a protected spot in the trees.  Lots of birdlife and a koala who wandered through our campsite.  We hiked along the coast to Parker Hill, which is part way to the Cape Otway Light.  Left to late to do the 10K one-way trek.  Again, beautiful coastal scenery.

Snoozing Koala

On our way again, we stopped at all the tourist sites on the Great Ocean Road.  We camped for a night at Port Fairy, a pretty historic town that is a tourist mecca, partly due to the annual folk festival.  I have never seem so many old stone buildings, from cottages to mansions.  Very trendy shops.  I had to mail a parcel to my sister and while I was in the post office Bill wandered into a men's shop and bought two pair of shoes!! 

I managed a swim at the Aquatic Centre which is right next to Southcombe Caravan Park before we left on Thursday.  We stopped at the port  part of Port Fairy and saw this interesting historical flood sign.  I hope you can read the blow up.  The full height of the sign in the first picture is 2.3 metres and the flood described in 1946 was 2.7 metres.  Does the scenario sound familiar?

Port Fairy

We headed for the Coonawarra and ended up at Coonawarra Bush Holiday Camp.  Is is more like a farm front yard holiday park with a big muddy pond that is apparently for swimming.  No thanks.  Otherwise OK with a good camp kitchen and friendly staff.  The so called "lake" looks very pretty at night with the fence around it topped by fairy lights but I'm not tempted to swim.

Coonawarra Bush Holiday Park "Swimming Lake" and Glamping Tents.

Til next time.

Bobbie and Bill